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Overview
Norvasc belongs to a class of medicines called calcium channel blockers. Because they are usually well-tolerated, these drugs have made the treatment of angina and high blood pressure easier.
Norvasc is prescribed to treat high blood pressure alone or in combination with other blood pressure pills. It is also helpful for certain forms of angina.
Side Effects and Interactions
Norvasc is usually well tolerated with few side effects, but some people react to this drug with fluid retention, leading to swelling of the legs, feet or hands.
Dizziness, heart palpitations, flushing or drowsiness may also occur, and women appear especially susceptible.
Other side effects include headache, weakness or fatigue, nausea, rash, itching, indigestion, muscle cramps, and sexual difficulties. Report any symptoms or suspected side effects to your physician promptly.
Norvasc has remarkably few interactions with other drugs. Grapefruit or grapefruit juice can boost blood levels of Norvasc slightly.
It is wise to check with your doctor and pharmacist to make sure this medicine is safe in combination with any other drugs you take.
Special Precautions
People with liver disease may need a lower dose of Norvasc, as may the elderly.
Patients with congestive heart failure must be monitored closely if they take any calcium channel blocker.
Taking the Medicine
Norvasc may be taken with or without meals, once a day.
Do not stop taking Norvasc suddenly, as this could lead to complications. Your doctor will tell you how to taper off gradually if you no longer need this medication.
I'd like to cut down on this med. I just can't afford to take one (10/20) every day. Would it be safe to take one every other day?--rather than give it up altogether? I also have some Avapro left (didn't agree with me). Could I substitute this so it isn't wasted? (300mg)
I was just prescribed Norvasc, as Diovan was making my blood pressure go to extreme lows and highs with a very high heart rate when the BP went too low. Heart rate was in acceptable range only when BP was over 120/80. I do not have any symptoms of angina and wouldn't know I had a high heart rate if I hadn't purchased a BP machine. Will the Norvasc control the high pulse rate even if I have no symptoms of angina? I have had a lot of tests (tacky, stress, Holter, etc.) and all showed no problem, but the high heart rate continues when BP is low.
I am having trouble with the different mfg of Norvasc. I was on one for 60 days with just feet swelling as a side effect. I had it refilled at a different place, cheaper, and it is not helping to lower my blood pressure...and I am having other side effects. Please let me know if this has happened to others.
I take 10 mg of Amlodipine along with 50 mg of Atenolol daily. My BP is finally down to a normal level with this combination. My doctor wants me to continue taking the Amlodipine even though my ankles swell slightly. The swelling is not enough to be a bother but I worry that any retention of fluids is not good.
Question: will amlodipine interact adversely with Turmeric root? It is in a combo to treat my husbands aches & pains from exercise. We are searching for ways to help him keep blood pressure down once he is tapered off & goes organic. He has lost 20 pounds slowly from exercising over the last year. We always eat nutritiously. He just ate too much of it. Please help.
I have been taking many medicines for my blood pressure. Currently I am taking Metoprolol ER Succinate (100 MG), Diovan (320 MG), Hydroclorothiazide (12.5 MG), Levothyroxine (0.05 MG), and Amoldopine Besylate (5 MG) for my blood pressure. I also take Mysoline (1/2 of a 250 MG tablet per day. My problem is that recently the Amoldopine Besylate was added. I have been smelling cigarette smoke which is not there.
I thought maybe I was going crazy until I went on the internet and saw that someone else was having the same senses, but it was with a different medicine. I would like to know if any of my medicines are causing this. It is weird. I work in a smoke free environment, yet I walk into the doctors offices and smell smoke and I am the only one smelling it.
The only other thought is that my husband had been a heavy smoker and he died almost 5 years ago. I have been having financial problems and maybe he is just letting me know that I am not alone. What is your take on this? Please answer.